The Copas Cup for Aspirational Club Eights is always one of the most popular and often one of the most fiercely competitive events of the Regatta. For many of the athletes competing, Henley Women’s Regatta will be the pinnacle of their season and one of the best opportunities they’ll get some side-by-side racing and win some races on iconic the Henley stretch of the Thames. This year, there do look to be three stand outs vying for the cup, and it is difficult to see the winner coming from outside of these entries.
Thames RC
The first and strongest contender coming into Henley Women’s Regatta is Thames RC. With their two first eights entered in the Ron Needs Cup for Championship Eights at the Regatta, their two entries in the Copas Cup are their third and fourth eights for the summer season. It’s a testament to the strength and depth of Thames’s sweep programme this year how well their lower crews have performed against other club’s first eights, with their Copas Cup ‘A’ crew coming third in Saturday’s B final at Metropolitan Regatta and reaching the final of the Challenge Eights at Wallingford Regatta. This is a great opportunity for these athletes to personally get their hands on some silver wear and they’ll relish that opportunity.
Vesta RC
Last year it was a Thames RC versus Vesta RC final in the Copas Cup final and this year could be shaping up to be the same. Back at Women’s Eights Head of the River, Vesta ‘A’ just got the better of the Thames crew they’ll face at Henley Women’s, placing 16th sandwiched between Thames ‘B’ and ‘C’.
So far this summer it’s been more mixed results, most recently being beaten by both Thames and Molesey in the B final of the Saturday of Metropolitan Regatta. However, they’ve not been far off, shown by Thames and Vesta’s identical time trial time that day, so if they can put together a good race they’ll be very close.
Vesta’s second eight are also entered and so far this season have already won the Trophy category at Poplar Regatta. They just got the better of Thames’s second Copas Cup entry in the D final at the Saturday of Metropolitan Regatta, so they’ll be hoping a good time trial and favourable draw can get them in the mix for the final few days.
Molesey RC
Thames RC and Vesta RC’s closest challenge looks likely to come from Molesey BC, who have only entered one eight for Henley Women’s Regatta. Many of this eight formed part of the crew who entered Women’s Eights Head of The River as Molesey BC ‘C’ and came 25th, a bit off the pace with Thames and Vesta at that stage.
However, a couple of changes to their line-up and a good block of training in the transition into the summer season has paid dividends, and they’ve had some strong results so far this summer, most recently coming fourth behind Thames RC on Saturday of Metropolitan Regatta. Their eight hasn’t raced much this summer but if their limited results is anything to go by they’ll be in the mix for a spot in the final.
Others
It’s a busy entry list for the Copas Cup with 26 entries representing 21 different clubs, which is exciting and positive for women’s club rowing. Cantabrigian RC and London RC were semi-finalists last year in this event but will need to step up from their performances so far this season to go as far again this year.
City of Bristol were second in the Club category at Wallingford Regatta, ahead of crews including Lea RC, Nottingham RC and Agecraft RC. However, in that final Bristol were 16 seconds off the Thames crew that beat them, nominally Thames D, giving some indication of the gap between the top contenders and the rest of the field.
Prediction
Based on results so far this season you’d have to say Thames RC are the favourites to retain the Copas Cup once again. Although their eight hasn’t raced as frequently this summer season, Molesey BC’s performance at Metropolitan Regatta suggests they’re in a strong position and could be well poised to create an upset. If Vesta RC can recapture the form that took them ahead of Thames RC at Women’s Eights Head of The River, they’ll also be strong. All three of these club’s crews will see Henley Women’s Regatta as their best opportunity to get some quality silver wear this season, so expect racing to be tight and right to the wire!
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